Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a legislative program that was authorized in Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (or "FAST Act"), the federal transportation act that was signed into law on December 4, 2015. With certain exceptions, projects that met eligibility criteria for the Safe Routes to School Program, Transportation Enhancements, and/or the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Program are eligible TAP projects.

All TAP projects require sponsors to pay 20% of approved projects costs. TAP projects are capped. A TAP project may not be substituted for another project. TAP projects must commence within four years of the award date.

TAP projects within the jurisdiction of a Transportation Management Area (TMA) are selected at the regional level by TMAs, which are metropolitan planning organizations with a population over 200,000. TMA contact information is provided below.

State Fiscal Year 2020-2024 Program Cycle Application

Previous TAP awards

Change Management

Sponsor’s Guide and training requirements

The Sponsor’s Guide to Non-Traditional Transportation Project Implementation (Sponsor’s Guide) provides information and instructions to Sponsors to help them successfully develop locally let federally funded transportation projects in accordance with Federal and State laws and regulations.

Sponsors of non-infrastructure and/or planning projects should note that some of the Sponsor’s Guide will not apply to non-infrastructure activities.

The Sponsor must become familiar with the Sponsor’s Guide so that they understand the responsibilities they are accepting when applying for the benefit of using Federal Funding. Beginning with projects awarded in 2010, Sponsors constructing locally let projects must attend a one-day training session. The training session instructs Sponsors on the local letting process and results in certification to administer and deliver these projects.

The Sponsor's Guide, Certification form and additional resources are available at the link below.

Regional local program contacts

Please direct TAP questions to the appropriate WisDOT contact person listed below.

Southwest Region

Michael Erickson
michael.erickson@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (608) 246-5361
Fax: (608) 246-3819

Southeast Region

Jacob Varnes
jacob.varnes@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (262) 548-8789
Fax: (262) 521-4425

  • TMA Contact:
    Ryan Hoel
    Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
    rhoel@sewrpc.org

Northeast Region

Sandy Carpenter
sandra.carpenter@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (920) 492-5681
Fax: (920) 492-5711

North Central Region

Alex Hegeman
alexander.hegeman@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (715) 365-5777
Fax: (715) 365-5780

Northwest Region

Bill Zimmer
william.zimmer@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (715) 635-5014
Fax: (715) 635-2309

Statewide contact

Travis Houle
travis.houle@dot.wi.gov
Phone: (608) 266-9656

​Related information: